Coke over charging system

ABSTRACT

A system for preventing effluents from being emitted from coke ovens upon charging certain of the coke ovens with coal while coking coal in others of the coke ovens. Effluent collectors and a source of sub-atmospheric pressure are provided for each of the coke ovens and communication is established between a coking oven and the oven to be charged with coal during the charging thereof. Valves are provided to control communication between the charging oven and the collecting means and to control communication between the coking oven and the source of sub-atmospheric pressure.

United States Patent 11 1 Lowe, Jr. Jan. 28, 1975 [541 COKE OVEN CHARGING SYSTEM FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Inventor: Earl R Lowe, Flvfismwn 170.987 11/1921 England 202/2511 [73] Assignee: lnterlake, Inc., Chicago, Ill. I

Primary Examiner-Wdbur L. Bascomb, Jr. [22] Med: 1972 Assistant ExuminerDarrell Sanders [211 Appl. No.: 284,240 Attorney, Agent. or Firm--Prangley. Dithmar, Vogel,

Sandler & Stotland [52] US. Cl 202/263, 202/257, 202/258,

202/26 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl ClOb 27/06 A system for preventing effluents from being emitted [58] Field of Search 202/263, 262, 254, 255, from coke ovens upon charging certain of the coke 202/256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261 ovens with coal while coking coal in others of the' coke ovens. Effluent collectors and a source of sub- [56] References Cited atmospheric pressure are provided for each of the UNITED STATES PATENTS coke ovens and communication is established between 1 485 914 3/1924 Greene 202/263 a coking oven and the oven to be charged with coal 4/1932 202/263 during the charging thereof.-Va.lves are provided to 1:836:94) 11/1932 Folsom /2 3 control communication between the charging oven 2,195,466 4/1940 0116 202/262 n the ll ing m n and to Control Communica- 2,975,109 3/1961 VanAckeun l 202/258 tion between the coking oven and the source of sub- 3,542,650 11/1970 Kulakov 292/263 atmospheric pressure. 3,623,959 11 1971 Knappstein 202/263 3.1104121 4/1974 Gidick .1 202/256 16 Clams, 4 Drawmzg Figures PATENTEB JAN 2 81975 sum 3 or 3 COKE OVEN CHARGING SYSTEM This invention relates to a system for preventing effluents from being emitted from coke ovens upon charging certain of the coke ovens with coal while coking coal in others of the coke ovens, and more particularly, this invention relates to a system wherein a source of sub-atmospheric pressure is connected to the coking oven during the charging of coal into the charging oven.

It is an important object ofthe present invention to provide a system for preventing effluents from being emitted from coke ovens upon charging certain of the coke ovens with coal while coking coal in others of the coke ovens, comprising means connected adjacent to one end of a first oven and adjacent to one end of a second oven for collecting effluents therefrom, a source of sub-atmospheric pressure connected to the one end of the first oven and to the one end of the second oven, a first valve between the collecting means and the first oven and a second valve between the collecting means and the second oven, a third valve between the source of sub-atmospheric pressure and the first oven and a fourth valve between the source of sub-atmospheric. pressure and the second oven, and means for providing communication between the other ends of the first oven and the second oven during charging of one of the ovens with coal, the first and the fourth valves being in the open position thereof and the second and the third valves being in the closed position thereof during charging of the first oven while coking in said second oven, the first and the fourth valves being in the closed position thereof and the second and the third valves being in the open positions thereof during charging of the second oven while coking in the first oven, whereby a portion of the gases present in the charging oven prior to the charging thereof and the effluents produced during the charging thereof is collected by the collecting means and the remainder is transferred through said communication means to the coking oven where the oxygen is reacted and thereafter the remainder having the oxygen removed therefrom is transferred by the source of sub-atmospheric pressure out of the coking oven to prevent emission of effluents from the charging oven during the charging thereof with coal.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system of the type set forth which includes control means between the source of sub-atmospheric pressure and the third and fourth valves to maintain a predetermined and substantially constant subatmospheric pressure at the communication means between the first oven and the second oven during the charging of one of the ovens with coal, a predetermined and substantially constant sub-atmospheric pressure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a system for preventing effluents from being emitted from coke ovens in a bank of coke ovens upon charging certain of the coke ovens with coal while coking coal in others of the coke ovens, comprising means connected adjacent to one end of each of the coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens for collecting effluents therefrom, a source of sub-atmospheric pressure connected to the one end of each of the coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens, a set of first valves corresponding in number to the number of coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens, each of the first valves being located between one of the coke ovens and the collecting means, a set of second valves corresponding in number to the number of coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens, each of the second valves being located between one of the coke ovens and the source of sub-atmospheric pressure, and each of the coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens serving alternately as a charging oven and a coking oven, means for providing communication between the other end of one coke oven serving as a charging oven and being charged with coal] and the other end of a coke oven serving as a coking oven coking coal during the charging of the one coke oven with coal, the charging oven having the associated first valve in the open position thereof and the associated second valve in the closed position thereof, the coking oven having the associated first valve in the closed position thereof and the associated second valve in the open position thereof during the charging of coal to the charging oven, whereby a portion of the gases present in the charging oven prior to the charging thereof and the effluents produced during the charging thereof is collected by the collecting means and the remainder is transferred through the communication means to the coking oven where the oxygen is reacted and thereafter the remainder having the oxygen removed therefrom is transferred by the source of subatmospheric pressure out of the coking oven to prevent emission of effluents from the charging oven during the charging thereof with coal.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a system of the type set forth which includes control means between the source of sub-atmospheric pressure and the second set of valves to maintain a predetermined and substantially constant sub-atmospheric pressure at the communication means between the coke oven being charged with coal and the coke oven during the charging of the one coke oven with coal.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing a bank of coke ovens and the effluent collection system therefor, and particularly shows in section the coke oven being charged and in phantom the coke oven coking coal;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the coke oven and the effluent collecting system shown in FIG. ll taken through the coke oven being charged with coal;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view partly in section from the pusher side of the coke ovens showing the connection between the charging oven and the coking oven; and

FIG. 4 is a view in section of the coking coke oven shown in phantom in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is disclosed a bank of coke ovens 50 having a plurality of aligned individual coke oven chambers 55. Each of the coke oven chambers 55 has a top wall 56 with three charging ports 57 therein, each of the charging ports 57 having a cylindrical portion 58 and a conical portion 59 extending into the interior of the individual coke oven chamber 55. There is also provided a cover 60 for each of the ports 57, each of the covers 60 being scalable with the port 57 and being removable therefrom.

Each of the coke oven chambers 55 is provided with a coke side exhaust port 62, which exhaust port 62 is shaped similarly to each of the charging ports 57 and has a cylindrical section 63 merging into a conical section 64. On the other side of each of the coke oven chambers 55, there is provided a pusher side exhaust port 67 having a cylindrical section 68 merged into a conical section 69. Spaced apart and parallel railway rails 72 are provided on the top wall 56 of the aligned coke oven chambers 55, the railway rails 72 being for a purpose hereinafter to be explained.

Each of the individual coke oven chambers is provided with a pusher side door chuck 75 for a pusher side door 76, and each of the coke oven chambers 55 is provided with a coke side door chuck for a coke side door (not shown). On both the pusher side and the coke side, there is provided a plurality of spaced apart and vertically extending l-bars 85, which l-bars on the coke side of the bank of coke ovens 50 support a platform 86.

Each of the coke oven chambers 55 is also provided with a bottom wall interconnecting the opposed side chucks 75 and 80, thereby to form with the top wall 56 an enclosed coke oven, the bottom wall 90 of each of the coke oven chambers forming the top of a regenerator section 95. The regenerator section includes two outer zones 96 placed adjacent to the pusher side wall 75 and the coke side wall 80, each of the outer zones extending inwardly toward an inner zone 97. The regenerator section 95 rests on support structure 100 which is provided with a plurality of chambers, one of which is adjacent to the pusher side chucks 75 and is the waste gas flu 101. The waste gas flu 101 is in communication with a gas manifold 102 which leads to the inner regenerator zone 97. A lean gas main 103 is connected to an air intake 104 which is also in communication with the gas manifold 102. On the coke side of the bank of coke ovens 50, there is provided a rich gas main 106 extending transversely of each of the individual coke oven chambers 55 along the entire bank of coke ovens.

A pusher side platform 110 is provided and includes a handrail 111 and extends longitudinally along the bank of coke ovens 50. A pair of spaced apart and parallel railway rails 114 also are provided on the pusher side of the coke oven to accommodate the coke pusher and leveling bar (not shown).

There is further provided a coke side platform and handrail-121 associated therewith, the platform extending longitudinally from the bank of coke ovens 50. There are also provided adjacent to the platform 120 a pair of railway tracks 124, the tracks 124 facilitating movement of a railway car along the bank of coke ovens 50 to receive therein the discharge of coke from each of the individual chambers 55, the coke quench car not being shown.

As shown schematically in FIG. 2, a coal charging apparatus is associated with the bank of coke ovens 50 and is adapted to ride upon the railway rails 72 mounted on the top 56 of the individual coke oven chambers 55. The coal charging apparatus 130 preferably takes the form of a larry car having a plurality of coal hoppers mounted thereon, the number of coal hoppers corresponding to the number of ports 57 in each of the individual coke oven chambers 55. The larry car serves to transmit coal from a source thereof to the individual coke oven chambers 55, the larry car having sufficient storage space to transmit enough coal to fill an individual coke oven chamber. As shown schematically, each of the hoppers on the larry car is provided with a charging conduit which is positioned in registry with a respective one of the ports 57 in the coke oven chamber 55 when the charging apparatus 130 is in position to dump the coal into the individual coke oven. v

There is further provided an effluent control system which includes a suction main connected to a source of sub-atmospheric pressure (not shown), such as an air pump or the like. The suction main 155 has one end thereof connected to a mounting flange 156 and is connected to a transition section 157 centrally of the main 155, the transition section 157 having a mounting flange at the end thereof and providing an elbow in the main 155. A valve 160 is sealingly mounted to the mounting flange 156 on the suction main 155, the valve 160 having a housing 161 with a diameter substantially the same as the suction main 155 and being provided with mounting flanges 162 on each end thereof. One of the mounting flanges 162 is sealingly secured to the mounting flange 156, such as by welding. The valve 160 further includes a valve body in the form of a plate suitably mounted in the housing 161 and connected to a control 164. The control, preferably is an Askania control, produced by the General Power Engineering Company, which control is very accurate and will maintain a constant pressure to within plus or minus V4 millimeter water.

A pipe having mounting flanges 171 on either end thereof is connected to the other end of the valve body 161 and more particularly to the other one of the mounting flanges 162. The pipe 170 is also connected to a collection manifold 175, the collection manifold 175 including a tubular body portion 176 extending along the length of the bank 50 of coke ovens. The collection manifold 175 is connected by means of a transition section 177 and mounting flange 178 to the pipe 170 and particularly to the mounting flange 171 thereon, thereby to effect a connection between the suction main 155 and the collection manifold 175. A

support structure 180 is provided around the collectionv manifold 175 and may be connected to the side of the coke ovens or to the platform 86 on the coke side of the ovens.

A bypass manifold is positioned above the collection manifold 175 and includes an elongated tubular body 186 extending longitudinally along the bank of coke ovens 50. The bypass manifold 185 is provided with a transition section 187 having a mounting flange 188 at the end thereof to which is connected a pipe 205 having mounting flanges 206 on each end thereof. An elbow-shaped pipe 190 is provided and has mounting flanges 191 and 192 at respective ends thereof. The mounting flange 191 of the pipe 190 is sealably secured to the mounting flange 158 of the transition pipe 157 and the mounting flange 192 is sealably secured to a mounting flange 197 provided at the ends of a housing 196 of a second valve 195. The other mounting flange 197 of the valve is sealably secured to the mounting flange 206 of the pipe 205. The valve 195 includes a valve body 198 connected to a control 199 therefor, the control 199 being of the Askania" type. It is seen therefore that a connection exists between the bypass manifold 185 and the suction main 155 interrupted or controlled by the valve 195.

It should be understood that generally there is but one suction main 155 which is connected to the collection manifold 175 and the bypass manifold 185. The suction main 155 may be connected to the manifold 185 at one, two or three points, depending on various factors such as the size of the main diameter, the length of the manifold, the number of oven chambers 55 being serviced and other factors known in the art. For each connection between the suction main 155 and the bypass manifold 185 another valve, such as valve 195 is provided with the associated control therefor.

Each of the individual coke oven chambers 55 is provided with an ascension pipe 210 which is sealably connected to andis in registry with the coke side exhaust port 62, each of the ascension pipes 210 having flanges 211 on the ends thereof, one of which provides a sealing connection with the top 56 of the associated oven 55. The other flange 211 of each of the ascension pipes 210 is connected to a T-shaped connector 215, which T-shaped connector has connecting flanges 216 on the ends thereof. Each of the Tshaped connectors 215 has a gooseneck pipe 220 sealably mounted thereon which extends into the collection main 175, the goosenecks 220 each being provided with a valve 225 having a manual control 226 therefor (see FIG. 1). The valves 225 are the open-shut type wherein the valves 225 may be operated to a position shown in FIG. 2 wherein the valve is open and to the position shown in FIG. 4 wherein the valve 225 is closed.

Each of the T-shaped connectors 215 is also provided with a pipe section 230 which extends vertically upwardly to an elbow 231, the elbow 231 having flanges 232 thereon so as to provide a seal between the pipe 230 and the elbow 231. Each ofthe elbows 231 is provided with a gooseneck pipe 235 which extends into the bypass manifold 185, each of the goosenecks 235 being provided with a valve 240 at the end thereof and a manual control 241 therefor. The valves 240 and the manual controls 241 are substantially the same as the valves 225 and the manual controls 226 therefor. The valves 240 are the off-on type wherein the valves 240 may be moved between an open position shown in FIG. 4 and a closed position shown in FIG. 2. Each of the T-shaped connectors 215 is provided with steam ejector 250, which ejector 250 may be manually operated to create a temporary suction at the gooseneck 220, all for a purpose hereinafter to be explained.

A U-shaped connector pipe 255 is provided between the coke oven 55 to be charged with coal and another oven 55a (see FIG. 1), which is an oven wherein coking may be taking place, the oven 55a having a coal charge therein and being heated to an elevated temperature. The U-shaped connector 255 is provided with a mounting flange 256 for sealably securing the connector to the coking oven 55a and a mounting flange 257 for sealably connecting the connector 255 to the oven 55 to be charged with coal. The U-shaped connector 255 is also provided with risers (not shown) inside the U- shaped connector to sealably close off the pusher side exhaust ports 67 in the individual coke ovens 55 and 55a. When the risers are in the up position, the U- shaped connector 255 provides communication between the coke oven 55 being charged with coal and the coking oven 550. When the risers are in the down position, the pusher side exhaust ports67 are sealed to interrupt communication between the oven 55 and the oven 55a. The U-shaped connector 255 is preferably carried by the larry car so as to be transferable between each of the individual coke ovens 55 and 550 or alternatively, the U-shaped connector 255 may be permanently installed.

Operation of the system is as follows. The following description relates to the two coke ovens 55 and 55a shown in the drawings; however, itis understood that the description pertains to any two coke ovens 55 in the entire bank of coke ovens 50. It is further understood that the two coke ovens 55 and 55a employed are not necessarily adjacent one to the other as shown in the drawings; however, working with adjacent coke ovens is preferred for reasons that will become apparent. During the normal coking operation, an oven 55 will have a charge of coal M0 therein. The covers 50 will be in place in sealing engagement with the ports 57. A cover or riser (not shown) is provided for the pusher side exhaust port 67 to seal the same, the coking side exhaust port 62 being open to provide a communication between the coking oven and the collection manifold 175. The valve 225, known in the art as a lPullman valve is open thereby to establish communication between the collection manifold 175 and the oven 55. The valve 241), also a Pullman valve, is closed during normal coking operation thereby to prevent communication between the oven being coked and the source of sub-atmospheric pressure connected to the suction main 155. It is generally recognized in the art that it is undesirable to draw a vacuum on a coking oven 55 being coked in order to prevent damage to the refractory material forming the inner walls of the oven.

After the charge of coal 140 has been coked, the coking door (not shown) is opened and a pusher ram (not shown) entering from the pusher side of the oven 55 rams the coke out of the oven and into a quench car adapted to ride on the railway rails 124. Once the oven chamber 55 has been emptied, it :is ready to receive a new charge of coal. Coal is transported to the individual oven chamber 55 along the rails 72 on the top of the bank of coke ovens 50 by means of a larry car schematically shown as in the drawings. The larry car is self-propelled and travels rapidly between the source of -coal and the individual coke oven 55 being charged.

During the charging of coal to an oven chamber 55, effluents in the form of noxious gases, coke dust and air present in the empty coke oven are produced and at the same time are displaced by the coal 140 being charged into the oven. it is desirable and it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a system for preventing the aforementioned effluents from escaping from the coke oven 55 during the charging thereof with coal.

When a coke oven 55 is being prepared to receive a charge of coal 140 therein, the covers 60 of the ports 57 are removed by an attendant, and thereafter, the larry car or coal charging apparatus is positioned so that the charging conduits thereof are in registry with the ports 57 in the coke oven 55 to be charged. Thereafter, the attendant will activate the steam jet 251) to provide a suction on the coke oven 55 being charged with coal and to provide a flow path for some of the effluents from the coke oven being charged with coal to the collection manifold 175. To this end, the attendant manually opens the Pullman valve 225, the Pullman valve 240 being closed. it is important to prevent the effluents in the oven 55 being charged with coal from entering the by-pass manif old because the amount of oxygen present in an empty coke oven mixed with the tine coal dust produced during the charging of the coke oven with coal Mil may provide an explosive mixture in the by-pass manifold. On the other hand, all the ovens 55 in the bank of the coke ovens 50 which are'in the coking cycle willbe discharging effluents into the collection manifold 175 and these effluents from the coking ovens will have substantially no oxygen therein and therefore, the amount of oxygen present in the effluents from the coke oven 55 being charged with coal is sufficiently diluted by the gases from the coking ovens so that no explosive mixture can exist in the collection manifold 175. It is for this reason that the effluents from the coke oven 55 being charged with coal 140 must be prevented'from entering the bypass manifold 185 until after the oxygen has been removed therefrom.

While the steam jet 250 provides a suction on the coke oven 55 being charged with coal 140, the suction provided is insufficient to accommodate the quantity of effluents produced during the charging of coal 140 into the coke oven. Further, the extent of the suction produced by the steam jet 250 depends to a great extent upon the oven temperature, the humidity, the temperature in thecollection manifold 175 and other factors, all of which are variable, whereby it is difficult to maintain or predict the extent of the suction on the coke oven 55 provided by the steam jet 250. When the suction provided by the steam jet 250 is inadequate to accommodate all of the effluents produced during the charging of the coke oven 55 with coal 140, the effluents will escape from the coke oven through any aperture available, and such as the ports 57, the pusher side door 75 and the coke side door if they are not tightly sealed. It should be understood that the collection manifold 175 is maintained under a positive pressure which preferably is 6 to 8 millimeters water, whereby it is easily understood why the steam jet 250 is insufficient to provide adequate suction on the coke oven 55 being charged with the coal 140 to accommodate all of the effluents produced.

Once the operator has positioned the coal charging apparatus 130, as shown in FIG. 2 and also manually operated the valve 225 to the open position thereof, the valve 240 being in the closed position thereof, and activated the steam jet 250, the connecting means 255 between the coke oven 55 to be charged with coal and the coke oven 55a coking coal is established. The U- shaped tube 255 is preferably carried by the coal charging apparatus 130 and is sealably positioned to provide communication between the oven 55 being charged and the coking oven 55a. Once the connecting means or the U-shaped tube 255 is in place, the risers (not shown) which normally seal the pusher side exhaust ports 67 are raised, thereby to establish communication between the coke oven 55, when it is charged with coal 140, and the coke oven 55a which is already in the process of coking.

It is understood as hereinbefore set forth that the coke oven 55a in the coking condition thereof will normally have the Pullman" valve 225 in the open position thereof thereby to establish communication between the collection manifold 175 and the coke oven 55a and have the Pullman valve 240 in the closed position thereof thereby preventing communication between the coke oven 55a and the suction manifold 155. During charging of the coke oven 55, the positions of the valves 225 and 240 for the coking oven 55a are changed wherein the Pullman valve 225 is in the closed position thereof and the Pullman valve 240 is in the open position thereof, thereby interrupting communication between the coking oven 55a and the collection manifold and establishing communication between the coking oven 55a and the bypass manifold and hence the suction main 155. As it only takes less than about 2 minutes to complete the charging operation for the coke oven 55, it is feasible to establish a suction on the coking oven 55a without damaging the refractory material forming the walls thereof. Nevertheless, it is to be understood that the positions of the valves 225 and 240, shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, are only accurate for a coking oven 550 during the time that it is being used to draw effluents from an oven 55 being charged with coal. After the oven 55 has been charged, the valves 225 and 240 associated with the cokingoven 55a are returned to their normal coking position, as hereinbefore described.

Once the U-shaped tube 255 is in place and the risers normally sealing the pusher side exhaust ports 67 have been raised and communication has been established between the coke oven 55 to be charged with coal H40 and the coking oven 55a, the charging operation may begin. In an actual example, the source of subatmospheric pressure provided a pressure of about l0 inches of water in the suction main 155, whereby there was ample drawing power to provide and to maintain suction at the U-shaped tube 255 of between about -4 and 5 millimeters water, thereby to establish and maintain a predetermined and substantially constant suction between the coking oven 55a and the charging oven 55 at the U-shaped connector 255. Although the valve and the control therefor 199 were operated to maintain a constant pressure in the bypass manifold 185 by reading from the pipe 205, the pressure at the U-shaped connector 255 was measured by a gauge during the charging of the coke oven 55 with coal 140 and was found to be maintained substantially constant at a valve of from about -4 and -5 millimeters water.

As coal 140 is introduced into the charging oven 55, as seen in FIG. 2, a portion of the effluents consisting of gases and coal dust including the air present in the empty coke oven prior to the charging thereof is transmitted, as shown by the arrows pointing to the left in FIG. 2, upwardly through the coke side exhaust port 62, through the ascension pipe 210, the T-shaped connector 215, the gooseneck pipe 220 and the Pullman valve 225 into the collection manifold 175. It is understood that the suction to effect movement of the effluents in the above-described flow path is provided by the steam jet 250.

The remainder of the effluents in the coke oven 55 being charged with coal 140 flow along the flow path illustrated by the arrows pointing to the right in FIG. 2 toward the pusher side exhaust port 67 and upwardly therethrough into the U-shaped connection 255, through the connection 255 and into the coking oven 55a. As the effluents enter the coking oven 55a, they travel along the flow path shown by the arrows in H0. 4, the effluents coming into contact with the coal 140 in the coking oven 55a maintained at the elevated temperatures necessary for the coking operation. Any oxygen present in the effluents is reacted upon contacting the coal 140 in the coking oven 55a and is thereby removed from the effluents. The remainder of the effluents with the oxygen removed therefrom is transported along the flow path, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 4, upwardly through the ascension pipe 210 through the gooseneck pipe 235 and Pullman" valve 240 into the bypass manifold 135 and thereafter through the pipe 205, the valve ll9and into the suction main 155. Because the valve 195 has an Askania" control H99 therefor, as hereinbefore described, it is possible to maintain a substantially constant draw across the coking oven $50, thereby to produce a substantially constant sub-atmospheric pressure at the connection 255 between the coking oven a and the coke oven 55 being charged with coal 140. Due to the independent source of sub-atmospheric pressure, it is possible to provide a constant sub-atmospheric pressure to the coke oven 55 beingcharged with coal that is not possible with the steam ejector 2%.

Once the charging operation is complete, the Pullman valve 240, associated with the coking oven 5a, is closed thereby to interrupt communication between the source sub-atmospheric pressure and the coking oven 55a while at the same time the associated Pullman valve 225 is opened thereby to establish communication between the coking oven 55a and the collection manifold 175, all as hereinbefore described. Also, the risers (not shown) in the U-shaped connector 225 are lowered thereby sealing the coking oven 55a from the oven 55 just charged with coal. The coke oven 55 having just received a charge of coal 140 is now ready to be coked. The covers 60 are placed in position over the ports 57 and sealed in the usual manner, and the steam ejector 250 is turned off. Thereafter, the U- shaped connector 255 may be removed and transported along with the coal charging apparatus E30 back to the source of coal to obtain another load thereof. After the coke oven 55, which has been just charged with coal, is in the coking condition thereof, it may be used to assist still another oven with the effluents produced therein during the charging of the other oven with coal.

There is seen therefore that there has been provided a system for preventing effluents from being emitted from coke ovens upon charging certain of the coke ovens with coal while coking coal in others of the coke ovens. While there has been disclosed what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it may be appreciated that certain modifications and alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which the appended claims are intended to cover.

What is claimed is:

1. A system for preventing effluents from being emitted from coke ovens upon charging certain of the coke ovens with coal while coking coal in others of the coke ovens, comprising means connected adjacent to one end of a first oven and adjacent to one end of a second oven for collecting effluents therefrom, a source of subatmospheric pressure connected to said one end of the first oven and to said one end of the second oven, a first valve between said collecting means and the first oven and a second valve between said collecting means and the second oven, a third valve between said source of sub-atmospheric pressure and the first oven and a fourth valve between said source of sub-atmospheric pressure and the second oven, control means between said source of subatmospheric pressure and said first and second valves to' maintain a positive pressure in said collecting means, and means for providing communication between the other ends of the first oven and the second oven during charging of one of the ill ovens with coal, said first and said fourth valves being in the open position thereof and said second and said third valves being in the closed position thereof during charging of the first oven while coking in the second oven, said first and said fourth valves being in the closed position thereof and said second and said third valves being in the open positions thereof during charging of the second oven while coking in the first oven. whereby a portion of the gases present in the charging oven prior to the charging thereof and the effluents produced during the charging thereof is collected by said collecting means and the remainder is transferred through said communication means to the coking oven where the oxygen is reacted and thereafter the remainder having the oxygen removed therefrom is transferred by said source of subatmospheric pressure out of the coking oven to prevent emission of effluents from the charging oven during the charging thereof with coal.

2. A system set forth in claim 1, wherein said collecting means includes an elongated manifold common to all of the coke ovens.

3. A system set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a steam jet connected to said collecting means and to the oven being charged with coal to provide a temporary suction on the charging oven during the introduction of coal thereinto to transmit a portion of the gases present in the charging oven prior to the charging thereof and the effluents produced during the charging thereof to said collecting means.

4. A system set forth in claim ll, wherein said source of sub-atmospheric pressure is connected to a manifold common to all of the coke ovens.

5. A system set forth in claim 1, wherein said communication means is a U-shaped tube adapted to fit over exhaust ports in the coke ovens.

6. A system set forth in claim 1, wherein said communication means is movable between individual ones of the coke ovens.

7. A system set forth in claim ll, wherein the first and second ovens are adjacent ovens in a bank of coke ovens.

8. A system for preventing effluents from being emitted from coke ovens upon charging certain of the coke ovens with coal while coking coal in others of the coke ovens, comprising means connected adjacent to one end of a first oven and adjacent to one end of a second oven for collecting effluents therefrom, a source of subatmospheric pressure connected to said one end of the first oven and to said one end of the second oven, a first valve between said collecting means and the first oven and a second valve between said collecting means and the second oven, a-third valve between said source of sub-atmospheric pressure and the first oven and a fourth valve between said source of sub-atmospheric pressure and the second oven, means for providing communication between the other ends of the first oven and the second oven during charging of one of the ovens with coal, and control means between said source of sub-atmospheric pressure and said first and second valves to maintain a positive pressure in said collecting means and between said source of subatmospheric pressure and said third and fourth valves to maintain a predetermined and substantially constant sub-atmospheric pressure at said communication means between the first oven and the second oven during the charging of one of the ovens with coal, said first and said fourth valves being in the open position thereof and said second and said third valves being in the closed position thereof during charging of the first oven while coking in the second oven, said first and said fourth valves being in the closed position thereof and said second and third valves being in the open positions thereof during charging of the second oven while coking in the first oven, whereby a portion of the gases present in the charging oven prior to the charging thereof and the effluents produced during the charging thereof is collected by said collecting means and the remainder is transferred through said communication means to the coking oven where the oxygen is reacted and thereafter the remainder having the oxygen removed therefrom is transferred by said source of subat mospheric pressure out of the coking oven to prevent emission of effluents from the charging oven during the charging thereof with coal.

9. The system set forth in claim 8, wherein said control means is responsive to pressure changes in a line between said third and fourth valves and said source of sub-atmospheric pressure.

10. The system set forth in claim 8, wherein said control means is responsive to maintain the subatmospheric pressure in said communication means within plus or minus% millimeter water.

11. The system set forth in claim 8, wherein said subatmospheric pressure maintained by said control means at said communication means during the charging of one of the ovens with coal isin the range from about 4 millimeters water to about 5 millimeters water.

12. A system for preventing effluents from being emitted from coke ovens in a bank of coke ovens upon charging certain of the coke ovens with coal while coking coal in others of the coke ovens, comprising means connected adjacent to one end of each of the coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens for collecting effluents therefrom, a source of sub-atmospheric pressure connected to said one end of each of the coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens, a set of first valves corresponding in number to the number of coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens, each of said first valves being located between one of the coke ovens and said collecting means, a set of second valves corresponding in number to the number of coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens, each of said second valves being located between one of the coke ovens and said source of sub-atmospheric pressure, and each of the coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens serving alternately as a charging oven and a coking oven, control means between said source of subatmospheric pressure and said set of first valves to maintain a positive pressure in said collecting means, and means for providing communication between the other end of one coke oven serving as a charging oven and being charged with coal and the other end of a coke oven serving as a coking oven coking coal during the charging of the one coke oven with coal, the charging oven having the associated first valve in the open position thereof and the associated second valve in the closed position thereof, the coking oven having the as sociated first valve in the closed position thereof and the associated second valve in the open position thereof during the charging of coal to the charging oven, whereby a portion of the gases present in the charging oven prior to the charging thereof and the effluents produced during the charging thereof is collected by said collecting means and the remainder is transferred through said communication means to the coking oven where the oxygen is reacted and thereafter the remainder having the oxygen removed therefrom is transferred by said source of subatmospheric pressure out of the coking oven to prevent emission of effluents from the charging oven during the charging thereof with coal.

13. The system set forth in claim 12, wherein said collecting means includes a manifold extending longitudinally of the bank of coke ovens connected to each of the individual coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens.

14. The system set forth in claim 12, wherein said source of sub-atmospheric pressure is connected to a bypass manifold extending the length of the bank of coke ovens and is connected to each of the individual coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens.

15. The system set forth in claim 12, wherein said communication means is movable between individual coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens.

16. A system for preventing effluents from being emitted from coke ovens in a bank of coke ovens upon charging certain of the coke ovens with coal while coking coal in others of the coke ovens, comprising means connected adjacent to one end of each of the coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens for collecting effluents therefrom, a source of sub-atmospheric pressure connected to said one end of each of the coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens, a set of first valves corresponding in number to the number of coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens, each of said first valves being located between each of the coke ovens and said collecting means, a set of second valves corresponding in number to the number of coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens, each of said second valves being located between each of the coke ovens and said source of sub-atmospheric pressure, each of the coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens serving alternately as a charging oven and a coking oven, means for providing communication between the other end of one coke oven serving as a charging oven and being charged with coal and the other end of another coke oven serving as a coking oven and coking coal during the charging of the one coke oven with coal, and control means between said source of subatmospheric pressure and said first set of valves to maintain a positive pressure in said collecting means and between said source of sub-atmospheric pressure and said second set of valves to maintain a predetermined and substantially constant sub-atmospheric pressure at said communication means between the charging oven and the coking oven during the charging of the charging oven with coal, the charging oven having the associated first valve in the open position thereof and the associated valve in the closed position thereof, the coking oven having the associated first valve in the closed position thereof and the associated second valve in the open position thereof during the charging of coal to the charging oven, whereby a portion of the gases present in the charging oven prior to the charging thereof and the effluents produced during the charging thereof is collected by said collecting means and the remainder is transferred through said communication means to the coking oven where the oxygen is reacted and thereafter the remainder having the oxygen removed therefrom is transferred by said source of subatmospheric pressure out of the coking oven to prevent emission of effluents from the charging oven during the charging thereof with coal. 

1. A system for preventing effluents frOm being emitted from coke ovens upon charging certain of the coke ovens with coal while coking coal in others of the coke ovens, comprising means connected adjacent to one end of a first oven and adjacent to one end of a second oven for collecting effluents therefrom, a source of sub-atmospheric pressure connected to said one end of the first oven and to said one end of the second oven, a first valve between said collecting means and the first oven and a second valve between said collecting means and the second oven, a third valve between said source of sub-atmospheric pressure and the first oven and a fourth valve between said source of subatmospheric pressure and the second oven, control means between said source of subatmospheric pressure and said first and second valves to maintain a positive pressure in said collecting means, and means for providing communication between the other ends of the first oven and the second oven during charging of one of the ovens with coal, said first and said fourth valves being in the open position thereof and said second and said third valves being in the closed position thereof during charging of the first oven while coking in the second oven, said first and said fourth valves being in the closed position thereof and said second and said third valves being in the open positions thereof during charging of the second oven while coking in the first oven, whereby a portion of the gases present in the charging oven prior to the charging thereof and the effluents produced during the charging thereof is collected by said collecting means and the remainder is transferred through said communication means to the coking oven where the oxygen is reacted and thereafter the remainder having the oxygen removed therefrom is transferred by said source of subatmospheric pressure out of the coking oven to prevent emission of effluents from the charging oven during the charging thereof with coal.
 2. A system set forth in claim 1, wherein said collecting means includes an elongated manifold common to all of the coke ovens.
 3. A system set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a steam jet connected to said collecting means and to the oven being charged with coal to provide a temporary suction on the charging oven during the introduction of coal thereinto to transmit a portion of the gases present in the charging oven prior to the charging thereof and the effluents produced during the charging thereof to said collecting means.
 4. A system set forth in claim 1, wherein said source of sub-atmospheric pressure is connected to a manifold common to all of the coke ovens.
 5. A system set forth in claim 1, wherein said communication means is a U-shaped tube adapted to fit over exhaust ports in the coke ovens.
 6. A system set forth in claim 1, wherein said communication means is movable between individual ones of the coke ovens.
 7. A system set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second ovens are adjacent ovens in a bank of coke ovens.
 8. A system for preventing effluents from being emitted from coke ovens upon charging certain of the coke ovens with coal while coking coal in others of the coke ovens, comprising means connected adjacent to one end of a first oven and adjacent to one end of a second oven for collecting effluents therefrom, a source of subatmospheric pressure connected to said one end of the first oven and to said one end of the second oven, a first valve between said collecting means and the first oven and a second valve between said collecting means and the second oven, a third valve between said source of sub-atmospheric pressure and the first oven and a fourth valve between said source of sub-atmospheric pressure and the second oven, means for providing communication between the other ends of the first oven and the second oven during charging of one of the ovens with coal, and control means between said source of sub-atmospheric pressure and said first and second valves to maintain a positive pressure in said cOllecting means and between said source of sub-atmospheric pressure and said third and fourth valves to maintain a predetermined and substantially constant sub-atmospheric pressure at said communication means between the first oven and the second oven during the charging of one of the ovens with coal, said first and said fourth valves being in the open position thereof and said second and said third valves being in the closed position thereof during charging of the first oven while coking in the second oven, said first and said fourth valves being in the closed position thereof and said second and third valves being in the open positions thereof during charging of the second oven while coking in the first oven, whereby a portion of the gases present in the charging oven prior to the charging thereof and the effluents produced during the charging thereof is collected by said collecting means and the remainder is transferred through said communication means to the coking oven where the oxygen is reacted and thereafter the remainder having the oxygen removed therefrom is transferred by said source of subatmospheric pressure out of the coking oven to prevent emission of effluents from the charging oven during the charging thereof with coal.
 9. The system set forth in claim 8, wherein said control means is responsive to pressure changes in a line between said third and fourth valves and said source of sub-atmospheric pressure.
 10. The system set forth in claim 8, wherein said control means is responsive to maintain the subatmospheric pressure in said communication means within plus or minus 1/4 millimeter water.
 11. The system set forth in claim 8, wherein said sub-atmospheric pressure maintained by said control means at said communication means during the charging of one of the ovens with coal is in the range from about -4 millimeters water to about -5 millimeters water.
 12. A system for preventing effluents from being emitted from coke ovens in a bank of coke ovens upon charging certain of the coke ovens with coal while coking coal in others of the coke ovens, comprising means connected adjacent to one end of each of the coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens for collecting effluents therefrom, a source of sub-atmospheric pressure connected to said one end of each of the coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens, a set of first valves corresponding in number to the number of coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens, each of said first valves being located between one of the coke ovens and said collecting means, a set of second valves corresponding in number to the number of coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens, each of said second valves being located between one of the coke ovens and said source of sub-atmospheric pressure, and each of the coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens serving alternately as a charging oven and a coking oven, control means between said source of sub-atmospheric pressure and said set of first valves to maintain a positive pressure in said collecting means, and means for providing communication between the other end of one coke oven serving as a charging oven and being charged with coal and the other end of a coke oven serving as a coking oven coking coal during the charging of the one coke oven with coal, the charging oven having the associated first valve in the open position thereof and the associated second valve in the closed position thereof, the coking oven having the associated first valve in the closed position thereof and the associated second valve in the open position thereof during the charging of coal to the charging oven, whereby a portion of the gases present in the charging oven prior to the charging thereof and the effluents produced during the charging thereof is collected by said collecting means and the remainder is transferred through said communication means to the coking oven where the oxygen is reacted and thereafter the remainder having the oxygen removed therefrom is transferred by said source of subatmospHeric pressure out of the coking oven to prevent emission of effluents from the charging oven during the charging thereof with coal.
 13. The system set forth in claim 12, wherein said collecting means includes a manifold extending longitudinally of the bank of coke ovens connected to each of the individual coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens.
 14. The system set forth in claim 12, wherein said source of sub-atmospheric pressure is connected to a bypass manifold extending the length of the bank of coke ovens and is connected to each of the individual coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens.
 15. The system set forth in claim 12, wherein said communication means is movable between individual coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens.
 16. A system for preventing effluents from being emitted from coke ovens in a bank of coke ovens upon charging certain of the coke ovens with coal while coking coal in others of the coke ovens, comprising means connected adjacent to one end of each of the coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens for collecting effluents therefrom, a source of sub-atmospheric pressure connected to said one end of each of the coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens, a set of first valves corresponding in number to the number of coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens, each of said first valves being located between each of the coke ovens and said collecting means, a set of second valves corresponding in number to the number of coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens, each of said second valves being located between each of the coke ovens and said source of sub-atmospheric pressure, each of the coke ovens in the bank of coke ovens serving alternately as a charging oven and a coking oven, means for providing communication between the other end of one coke oven serving as a charging oven and being charged with coal and the other end of another coke oven serving as a coking oven and coking coal during the charging of the one coke oven with coal, and control means between said source of sub-atmospheric pressure and said first set of valves to maintain a positive pressure in said collecting means and between said source of sub-atmospheric pressure and said second set of valves to maintain a predetermined and substantially constant sub-atmospheric pressure at said communication means between the charging oven and the coking oven during the charging of the charging oven with coal, the charging oven having the associated first valve in the open position thereof and the associated valve in the closed position thereof, the coking oven having the associated first valve in the closed position thereof and the associated second valve in the open position thereof during the charging of coal to the charging oven, whereby a portion of the gases present in the charging oven prior to the charging thereof and the effluents produced during the charging thereof is collected by said collecting means and the remainder is transferred through said communication means to the coking oven where the oxygen is reacted and thereafter the remainder having the oxygen removed therefrom is transferred by said source of sub-atmospheric pressure out of the coking oven to prevent emission of effluents from the charging oven during the charging thereof with coal. 